Chapter 6: unable to connect to postgres database

Before submitting

• I have searched existing issues to make sure this isn't a duplicate
• I have completed this chapter and encountered the issue myself

Chapter URL

https://nextjs.org/learn/dashboard-app/setting-up-your-database#executing-queries

Issue Type

Build or runtime error

Description

have the following problem:
Seed the database by running:
http://localhost:3000/seed
I am getting a:
GET /seed 500 in 21ms (compile: 4ms, render: 17ms)

And in the prosgresql log:
LOG: invalid length of startup packet

I found in the package.json that bcrypt still exists.

{
"private": true,
"scripts": {
"build": "next build",
"dev": "next dev --turbopack",
"start": "next start"
},
"dependencies": {
"@heroicons/react": "^2.2.0",
"@tailwindcss/forms": "^0.5.10",
"autoprefixer": "10.4.20",
"bcrypt": "^5.1.1",
"bcryptjs": "^3.0.3",
"clsx": "^2.1.1",
"next": "latest",
"next-auth": "5.0.0-beta.25",
"postcss": "8.5.1",
"postgres": "^3.4.6",
"react": "latest",
"react-dom": "latest",
"tailwindcss": "3.4.17",
"typescript": "5.7.3",
"use-debounce": "^10.0.4",
"zod": "^3.25.17"
},
"devDependencies": {
"@types/bcrypt": "^5.0.2",
"@types/node": "22.10.7",
"@types/react": "19.0.7",
"@types/react-dom": "19.0.3"
},
"pnpm": {
"onlyBuiltDependencies": [
"bcrypt",
"sharp"
]
}
}
my .env file:

POSTGRES_URL="postgresql://user:password@localhost:5432/nextjs_dashboard"

Even the change:

POSTGRES_URL="postgres://user:password@localhost:5432/nextjs_dashboard"
GET /seed 500 in 54ms (compile: 33ms, render: 21ms)
LOG: invalid length of startup packet

I can connect to the database with pgadmin and the specific user/ password.

Hopefully someone can help me out?

On forhand thank you for your help!

Expected vs Actual Behavior

Unable to connect with postgres database

Environment (optional)

No response

Screenshots (optional)

No response

Start at the chapter's GET /seed entry point and inspect the database setup plus package.json and POSTGRES_URL configuration. Reproduce the request while checking the PostgreSQL log; done means the seed request completes without a 500 and the database is populated.